The Colonial Theatre presents The Machine

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The Colonial Theatre will present The Machine performing Pink Floyd on April 18th at 8PM. Tickets for the performance are $40-$25 and can be purchased in person at the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street Monday-Friday 10AM-5PM, performance Saturdays 10AM-2PM, by calling (413) 997-4444 or online at www.TheColonialTheatre.org.

“They duplicate the sound and hits of Pink Floyd with chilling accuracy.” –Rolling Stone

“The Machine is dead on.” –The Village Voice

The Machine has forged a twenty-year reputation of excellence, extending the legacy of Pink Floyd while creating a legacy all its own. Over the years, The Machine has rocked audiences across North America, Central America, Europe and the Middle East. Known for performing a diverse mix of the Floyd’s extensive sixteen-album repertoire, the band focuses on making every show an authentic Floydian experience for its fans. The Machine’s stellar musicianship, dramatic lighting, multimedia accompaniments and passionate delivery of inventive set lists put it above and beyond the rest.

Starting out in the bohemian village of Nyack, NY, The Machine played a diverse repertoire of rock including many classic Pink Floyd songs. Show after show, the fans enthusiastically called for more of the Floyd and the band quickly developed a reputation for recreating the sound and spirit of Pink Floyd, right down to the extended psychedelic jams. From here, there was no turning back.

In the fifteen years since, The Machine has played over fifteen hundred shows to an estimated audience of over one million people. The Machine has shared the stage with the likes of The Guess Who, Jefferson Starship, Steppenwolf & Eddie Money and has performed along side of such respected musicians as Jeff Pevar (Phil Lesh & Friends, David Crosby), Matt Abts (Allman Brothers, Gov't Mule), Vince Welnick (Grateful Dead) and of course, Norbert Stachel of Roger Water's touring band.

The Machine has been featured in the Amazing Pudding, a Pink Floyd monthly published in England and distributed throughout Europe and the U.S.; and in the Roger Waters Fanzine as well as in P.U.L.S.E., a German music magazine. In 1994, The Machine gave an interview for the New York Times, which was included in an article illuminating successful tribute bands. They have also been profiled in the Washington Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer and Gig magazine.

The band’s greatest thrill to date has been the number of venues that immediately request their return and the new fans who instantly fall in love with the band. Drummer Todd Cohen stated, "it's always a thrill to discover that many of our fans weren't fans of Pink Floyd until after they saw The Machine.”  Singer/Guitarist Joe Pascarell summed it up by saying," It's a privilege to play great music and earn a living from it. It's thrilling and humbling all at the same time."
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.

Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.

The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.

Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is  appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.

Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.

Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.

Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.

The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.

The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.

Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.

Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years. 

He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.

Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.

Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve  a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.

Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.

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